When StreamCast Networks Inc. released the updated version of its Morpheus peer-to-peer (P-to-P) file swapping software last week, it also issued a little taunt at Internet maven America Online Inc. (AOL) in the form of a chat service that is interoperable with AOL"s Instant Messenger (AIM).
The new IM service, dubbed Morpheus Messenger, is powered by New York software company PalTalk.com and is being made available with the 1.9 version of Morpheus. But more than just sealing a collaborative deal with Morpheus, PalTalk hopes it can use the alliance to launch its software into the big leagues, against IM stalwarts like AIM and Microsoft Corp."s MSN Messenger.
After all, 90 million Internet users have downloaded previous versions of the Morpheus software, according to StreamCast, with an average of 29 million downloads per version.
Given Morpheus" track record, PalTalk said it expects some 1.75 million users to download the new version of Morpheus each week, giving them access to the company"s IM service.